New Zealand’s 33rd Auckland Marathon attracts nearly 18,000 participants

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s biggest and most iconic running event returned to the streets of Auckland on Sunday, with a record number of participants choosing to run, walk, and dance their way through the city.
The 2024 Auckland Marathon saw nearly 18,000 registered runners and walkers, the most in the event’s 33-year history.
Christchurch’s Oska Inkster-Baynes won the men’s marathon with a time of 2:21:49, just 11 seconds ahead of last year’s winner Daniel Balchin, with Michael Voss a further 55 seconds back in third.
Auckland’s Brigid Dennehy finished just two seconds outside of the women’s course record on her Auckland Marathon debut in a time of 2:41:31. Dennehy left two former Auckland Marathon champions in her wake, with 2017 and 2022 champion Hannah Oldroyd second in 2:46:30, and 2011 and 2021 champion Lisa Cross third in 2:48:12.
“It was a pretty slow start, a lot of wind and hills through Devonport made things pretty tricky. We had a group of about eight of us for a while, that was really nice, taking turns on the front, making sure everyone got a little rest, got our bottles,” said Inkster-Baynes.
“I’m absolutely stoked, over the moon,” said Dennehy. “Auckland is a pretty tough course, so it’s not one for fast times or anything and after having a disappointing marathon attempt earlier this year, I said the goal is to finish it, enjoy it, and run a negative split, so I think that played in my favor. I took it out nice and easy, and mentally, it’s always better when you’re catching people that went out too hard.” ■